Milk shake machine



Jan. 3, 1967 B. E. TOMLINSO N ET AL 3,295,997

MILK SHAKE MACHINE Filed Dec. 19, 1963 9 Sheets-Sheet 1 BARNARD E.TOMLINSON ORVILLE E. JAY

INVENTORS ATTORNEYS Jan. 3, 1967 B. E. TOMLINSON ET AL 3,295,997

MILK SHAKE MACHINE 9 sheets-sheet z Filed Dec. 19, 1963 BARNARD E.TOMLINSON INVENTORS ORVILLE E. JAY

ATTORNEYS Jan. 3, 1967 B. E. TOMLINSON ET AL 3,295,997

MILK SHAKE MACHINE Filed Dec. 19, 1963 9 Sheets-Sheet s INVENTORS FIG 3BARNARD E. TOMLINSON ATTQRNEYS Jan. 3, 1967 B. E. TOMLINSON ETAL 7 MILKSHAKE MACHINE Filed DEC. 19. 1965 9 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTORS ARNARD E."JI'ByLINSON ATTORNEYS Jan. 3,1967 B. E. TOMLINSON ET 3,295,997

MILK SHAKE MACHINE 9 Sheets$heet 5 Filed Dec. 19. 1965 INVENTORS BARNARDE. TOMLINSON ORVILLE E. JAY

FIG

A TTORNEYS Jan. 3, 19 67 B. E. TOMLINSON ET AL 3,295,997

MILK SHAKE MACHINE Filed Dec. 19, 1963 9 Sheets-Sheet 6 I u I85 BARNARDE. TOMLINSON ORVILLE E. JAY

INVENTORS ATTORNEYS Jan. 3, 1967 B. E. TOMLINSON ET ALf 3,295,997

MILK SHAKE MACHINE 9 Sheets-Sheet Filed Dec. 19, 1963 "1 Jim Jan. 3,1967 B. E. TOMLINSON ET AL 3,295,997

MILK SHAKE MACHINE 9 SheetsSheet 9 Filed Dec. 19 1963 m S M s m o m L TN M N R E O O V T m M Y E. & E D m Y V AR B B0 3 G F 3 9 G I. 2 FPS \NR2 6 9 A v (H4 rf T 9 8 8 Patented Jan. 3, 1967 3,295,997 MILK SHAKEMACHINE Barnard E. Tomlinson, Walla Walla, Wash., and Orville E. Jay,Milton-Freewater, Oreg., assiguors to Northwest Historical Metals Inc.,Walla Walla, Wash., a corporation of Washington Filed Dec. 19, 1963,Ser. No. 331,787 23 Claims. (Cl. 99275) The present invention relates ingeneral to automatic mixing machines and more particularly to anautomatic mixing machine for processing ice cream mixtures such as milkshakes and the like.

According to conventional prior art methods, malts, milk shakes andother ice cream mixtures are prepared and formulated by hand, with theactual mixing being accomplished by a rotating mixing shaft, much in thesame manner as a housewife prepares a cake or pudding with a householdmixer. From the standpoint of a commercial operation, this method isundesirable since it is time consuming and requires a great deal ofpersonal attention 'by an attendant or other sales personnel. The icecream must be first scooped from :a container and placed in a specialmetal mixing cup along with other ingredients such as milk and syrup.The various ingredients must be maintained separately and close to thesale-s counter. It is often diflicult also to maintain the ice cream ata desirable temperature to be scooped or dipped out. The time and laborinvolved in maintaining the separate ingredients and in attending to theactual mixing of the milk shake prevents sales personnel from attendingto other customers and thus limits the number of customers which can beserved. In addition, there is no assurance of obtaining a constantquality item since no two people will add the same amount of eachingredient or run the mixer the same length of time.

Also in use are dispensing freezers of the type in which an ice creammix and air are automatically fed into a freezing cylinder, whipped by adasher in the cylinder during the freezing operation, and then dispensedwhen desired through a front discharge gate. This method of milk shakepreparation is disadvantageous in that the unit must be charged at thestart of each days operation and must be emptied and completely cleanedat the close of operations.

The present invention seeks to alleviate these problems by providing acompletely automatic mixing apparatus which requires no personalattention in formulating or mixing the ingredients. According to thepresent invention, all of the milk shake ingredients, except for themilk, are provided in pre-frozen form in the bottom of the containerfrom which the milk shake is to be consumed. It is then necessary onlyto insert the container with the pre-frozen ingredients into theapparatus. The frozen ingredients are reduced to a very finely dividedform by the mixing apparatus and the exact amount of milk desired isadded during the operation. At the completion of the various cycles ofthe mixing machine, the machine is automatically shut off and thecompleted milk shake may be removed and consumed. With the apparatus ofthe present invention, it is no longer necessary to maintain anddispense the individual ingredients of the milk shake and no time iswasted in cleaning equipment since the mixing elements of the machineare automatically cleaned at the end of each mixing operation. With thisarrangement, ran attendant merely takes the customers order and startsthe mixing cycle of the machine. While the machine is completing themilk shake, the attendant may make change for the customer and takeorders from other customers. When the machine has completed its cycle,the finished milk shake is given to the customer. The present inventionalso may be adapted to provide a completely self-service method fordispensing milk shakes. The apparatus is well adapted for utilizationwith coin operated controls well known in the art.

The primary object of the present invention is, therefore, to provide afully automatic milk shake mixing device wherein a constant qualityproduct may be obtained with a minimum amount of attention by anoperator.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a mixing machineof the character described wherein the basic frozen mixture ispre-frozen in containers from which the milk shake is to be consumed andsubsequently reduced to a finely divided form with the addition of milk.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a completelyautomatic milk shake mixing machine which eliminates the necessity ofcleaning mixing containers and other apparatus after each mixing.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a mixing machinewhich utilizes electrically controlled cycles of mixing, dispensing milkand rinsing of the mixing apparatus.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a mixing machinewherein a rotatable mixing shaft is automatically raised and lowered -bymeans of a motor driven cam mechanism and a mixer motor is activated anddeactivated in proper timed sequence by cam or electrical switches, withmilk being dispensed in proper proportions by means of a liquid levelresponsive switch arrangement.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a device of thecharacter described which will automatically return the rotatable mixingshaft to a rinse tank at the completion of a mixing operation andsubsequently turn itself 01f.

The means by which the foregoing objects and other advantages, whichwill be apparent to those skilled in the art, are accomplished, are setforth in the following specification and claims and are illustrated inthe accompanying drawings dealing with the preferred embodiment.Reference is now made to the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the overall device;

FIG. 2 is an end elevational view with portions of the frame cut away tobetter illustrate the details of the device;

FIG. 3 is a front elevational view with portions of the frame cut awayto illustrate details;

FIG. 4 is a back elevational view;

FIG. 5 is a side elevational view taken from the right side of themachine as seen in FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 is a vertical cross sectional view taken along lines 66 of FIG.2;

FIG. 7 is a horizontal cross sectional view taken along lines 7-7 ofFIG. 6;

FIG. 8 is a vertical cross sectional view taken along lines 88 of FIG.2;

FIG. 9 is a vertical cross sectional view taken along lines 9-9 of FIG.3;

FIG. 10 is a vertical cross sectional view taken along lines Ill-10 ofFIG. 4;

FIG. 11 is a cross sectional view 1111 of FIG. 10;

FIG. 12 is a horizontal cross sectional view taken along lines 12-12 ofFIG. 3;

FIG. 13 is a cross sectional view similar to FIG. 12 showing thecontainer support and mixing assembly in a different osition; 4

FIG. 14 is a vertical cross sectional View taken along lines 14-14 ofFIG. 12;

FIG. 15 is a vertical cross sectional view taken along 15-15 of FIG. 12;

taken along lines FIG. 16 is an elevational view showing the mixingshaft and blade details;

FIG. 17 is a cross sectional view taken along 1717 of FIG. 16; and

FIG. 18 is a schematic of the electrical control circuit for the device.

Referring now to the drawings, wherein like reference numerals indicateidentical parts in the various views, the automatic mixing device of thepresent invention comprises an overall frame structure and enclosureindicated generally by the numeral 1 in FIG. 1, with the frame andenclosure Walls including an inwardly curving wall portion 2. Acontainer support and rinse tank assembly 3 is located within the curvedwall portion 2 and directly beneath a rotatable mixing shaft assemblyindicated generally at 4. The frame structure 1 also supports a milksupply container 5 equipped with a milk supply valve arrangement 6. Thecontrol mechanism presently to be described which includes drivingmotors, cams, cam followers and micro switches along with other controlelements is located within the upright portion 7 of the frame andenclosure 1.

Main cam sprocket The main control for activating and deactivating thevarious components of the mixing device is accomplished by means of amain cam sprocket 8 shown most clearly in FIG. 4. As illustrated in FIG.2, the cam sprocket 8 is keyed for rotation with a rotatable shaft 9which is journaled for rotation in the internal vertical frame members10 and 11 by means of bearing members 12 and 13. The end of the shaft 9opposite the cam sprocket 8 had keyed thereto an additional cam member14 which functions to control the position of the container support andrinse tank assembly 3 in a manner presently to be described. The camsprocket 8 rotates at a relatively low speed during the sequence ofoperation of the various components of the machine and makes one entirerevolution during each cycle of operation from the time the operatorswitches the machine on and the time that the machine aut-omatic-allyturns itself off, The cam sprocket 8 may thus be considered as aconstantly rotating member during the time that the machine is inoperation.

The cam sprocket 8 is driven by means of an electric-a1 mot-or 15 whichis initially started by means of the push button control 16 convenientlylocated on the frame structure 1 as illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 3. Theswitch 16 is a momentary holding switch or time delay switch whichserves to close the electrical circuit to the motor 15 for only a shortinterval of time after which the switch again opens. As will bepresentlydescribed in detail, the momentary activation of the motor 15 serves tostart the rotation of the cam sprocket 8. A micro switch closes thecircuit to the motor 15 which remainsclosed until the same micro switchis moved by cam means on the sprocket 8 to an open position to thusbreak the circuit and turn the machine off. In addition to the pushbutton control 16, a signal light 17 is also located on the outside ofthe v frame and may be a colored light to indicate that electrical poweris available for the motor 15. An additional sign-a1 means 18, also inthe form of a colored light, may be provided adjacent the push buttoncontrol 16 and electrically connected in series with the motor 15 togive an indication that the motor is operating and that the cam.sprocket 8 is rotating. For the purpose of being able to stop therotation of the cam sprocket 8 any time during its rotation, to enableinspection or repair of the machine, an over-ride switch 19 is locatedwithin the enclosure and frame 1 so as to be inaccessible to an operatorduring normal use of the machine. This switch 19 normally remains in theon or closed position as illustrated in FIG. 3. The switch 19, alongwith other manually operated switches to be described, is mounted on anintern-a1 switch panel 20 connected to the frame structure.

The electrical motor 15 is drivingly connected to rotate the camsprocket 8 by means of a first chain member 21 which is trained aboutthe motor drive sprocket 22 and a driven sprocket 23 fixed to a transfershaft 24 as seen clearly in FIG. 4. The shaft 24 may be journaled by anysuitable means in the vertical frame member 10 and 11 and carries asecond drive sprocket for transferring the motor drive to the camsprocket 8 by means of a second chain 25. As aforementioned, theelectrical motor 15 is initially energized by means of the push buttoncontrol 16 which closes the circuit to the motor for only a short timeafter which it opens, leaving the control of the operation of the motorunder the infiunece of a cam operated micro switch. The micro switch 26is mounted on a portion of the vertical frame member 10 foraccomplishing this purpose and includes a cam follower or roller member27 carried by the leaf spring arm 28. The roller member 27 contacts asegmental cam member 29* mounted on the rear face of the sprocket 8. Thedetails of the micro switch and cam arrangement are shown most clearlyin FIGS. 4 and 8. The micro switch 26 is a normally closed switch whichis opened so as to break the electrical circuit to the motor 15 when thecam follower 27 rides up On the cam surface 29. FIG. 8 illustrates theposition of the cam surface 29 with relation to the cam follower 27 andmicro switch at the time the machine has completed a cycle of operation.In this position, the micro switch 26 has been opened and the circuit tothe motor 15 is broken. If the operator wishes to initiate a mixingcycle he presses the push button control 16 which operates a momentaryholding switch to close the circuit to the motor 15. The switch remainsclosed long enough to cause the cam sprocket 8 to rotate a sufficientdistance to move the cam surface 29 away from the cam follower 27 so asto allow the micro switch 26 to close and thus complete a circuitthrough the motor 15. After the circuit has been completed through themicro switch 26, the push button con trol switch 16 again opens and isready for operation the next time it is desired to initiate a cycle. Theswich 26 remains closed while the cam sprocket 8 moves one revolution toagain bring the cam surface 29 in contact with the cam follower 27 whichagain opens the switch 26 thus shutting off the motor 15.

'Mixer The mixing shaft assembly 4 is shown in detail in FIGS. 3 and 5and includes a rotatable vertical shaft 30 mounted in a vertical bearingsleeve 31 rigidly attached to the bracket 32 and 33 by means of weldingor the like. The brackets 32 and 33 are in turn rigidly fixed to amovable mixer motor assembly 34, the details of which will be presentlydescribed. The lower end of the rotatable shaft 30 may be equipped withany conventional means for receiving and clamping the upper end of amixer and cutter blade shaft 35 shown in detail in FIGS. 16 and 17. Theshaft 35 may include a flattened portion 36 on its upper end forcooperation with a set screw or the like, not shown, on the rotatableshaft 30 for the purpose of fixedly mounting the blade shaft 35 in theend of the shaft 30.

The bottom of the shaft 35 is equipped with an arrangement of blademembers which accomplish the combined functions of cutting or shavingthe frozen milk shake mixture into a very finely divided form, mixingthe milk with the frozen mixture and preventing the liquid from sloppingor splashing out of the container during mixing.

As illustrated in FIG. 2, the lower portion of the shaft 35 and theassociated blades extend down into the container 37, indicated in dottedline and contact the frozen mixture in the bottom of the containerduring the mixing operation. The cutting or shaving action is obtainedby means of the four cutter blades 38 which have a sharp leading edge 39and a plurality of notches 40. The result of the combined action of thesharpened edges 39 and the notches 40 on the frozen mixture is to reducethe frozen substance into finely divided chips or flakes. It will alsobe noted that the tapered shape of the blades 38 tends to circulate theliquid in the cup in an upward direction during rotation of the blades.

Immediately above the blades 38 is a second set of diametrically opposedmixing blades 41. The blades 41 cooperate with a third set of mixingblades 42 to thoroughly mix the milk in the container with the particlesof frozen mixture produced by the cutter blades 38. In addition, theblades 42 have vertically extending portions 43 which serve to insurethat the frozen mixture is cleared from the sides of the container asthe mixer is lowered into the container. Directly above the blades 42, aset of six equally spaced radially extending blades 44 are fixed to theshaft 35. It will also be noted that the blades 44 are given a suitablepitch or twist in such a manner that, when the shaft is rotating in thedirection to cut the frozen mixture, the blades 44 act to force theliquid in the container in a downward direction opposite to the upwardflow caused by the cutter blades 38 and mixing blades 41. In thismanner, the liquid within the container is constantly circulated toobtain an even mixture but is prevented from splashing out of thecontainer by the action of the blades.

Referring now to FIGS. 4 and 5, the movable mixer motor assembly 34comprises a rectangular frame which includes a fiat side plate 45, oneend plate 46, a top plate 47, and a bottom plate 48. The plates of theframe may be welded or otherwise connected together to form a rigidstructure for a purpose to be described. Rigidly mounted within theenclosure formed by the frame described is an electrical motor 49 whichprovides the drive for the rotatable mixer shaft 30. The motor 49 drivesthe chain 52 and a second sprocket 53 keyed to the upper end of therotatable shaft 30.

The energization and deenergization of the motor 49 at the proper timedintervals is automatically controlled by means of a normally closedmicro switch 54 mounted on the vertical frame member and illustratedclearly in FIGS. 2 and 8. The micro switch 54 includes a roller or camfollower 55 secured to the end of a leaf spring actuating arm 56. Themicro switch 54 is located on the frame member 10 in such a position asto be contacted by a second segmental cam surface 57 located adjacentthe cam surface 29 on the back face of the cam sprocket 8. The camsurface 57 is so formed as to include a sharp depression 58 along itslength as illustrated in FIG. 2. As before mentioned, the micro switch54 is a normally closed switch which completes a circuit to the motor49. The position of the cam surface 57 with relation to the roller 55 atthe time of completion of a cycle of operations is shown in FIG. 8. Atthis time, the mixer blades are submerged in a rinse tank and themachine is ready to be operated by pressing the control button 16 tostart the rotation of the cam sprocket 8. As will be noted from FIGS. 2and 8, the cam follower 55 has ridden onto the end of the cam surface57, thus breaking the circuit to the motor 49 with the cam roller 55being positioned closely adjacent the depression 58 of the cam surfaceat the end of a cycle of operation. As the sprocket 58 begins itsrotation, the cam follower 55 drops sharply into the depression 58 andthen quickly out and up again on the surface of the cam so that thecircuit to the motor 49 is quickly closed and opened again. The motor 49thus gives the mixing blades several initial rotations as the blades areremoved from the rinse tank in order to throw off excess water on theblades. As the sprocket 8 continues to rotate, the switch 54 remainsopen until the segmental cam surface 57 has passed from beneath thefollower 55, at which time the mixer blades have been lowered intocontact with the frozen mixture and the rotation of the blades is readyto be started. The micro switch 54 remains closed throughout the balanceof the rotation of the cam sprocket 8 and until the segmental camsurface 57 again passes beneath the roller 55 to break the circuit tothe mixer motor. The roller 55 again comes to rest adjacent thedepression 58 in the cam surface in the posi- 6 tion illustrated in thedrawings and is ready for another cycle of operations. A manual overrideswitch 59 may also be provided for selective operation of the mixermotor 49 during periods of repair or inspection. The manual overrideswitch 59 will be located on the switch panel 20 within the frameenclosure as shown in FIG. 3.

Before explaining the details of the structure for raising and loweringthe mixing shaft assembly 4 between a rinse position and a mixingposition, it will first be noted that the entire mixing motor assemblyand the rotating shaft are mounted for vertical reciprocation, with thecontainer support and rinse tank assembly 3 being swingable so as toplace either a rinsing tank or a milk shake container beneath the bladeshaft 35. The reciprocation of the mixer shaft assembly 4 and theswinging movement of the container holder and rinse tank assembly 3 arecoordinated in a manner to be described such that the blade 35 isimmersed in the rinse tank as the beginning of a cycle of operations andis thereupon raised by movement of the mixer motor assembly 34 and acontainer 37 is then swung beneath the blade shaft after which the bladeshaft is lowered to contact the frozen mixture. After the mixing iscompleted, the blade shaft is again raised and the rinse tank is swungtherebeneath with the blade shaft then being lowered into the rinse tankat the completion of a cycle of operation.

Turning now to the mechanism for vertically reciprocating the mixershaft assembly, the entire mixer motor assembly 34 is mounted forsliding movement on the vertical guide posts 60 and 61. In order tomount the mixer motor assembly 34, on the guide post 60, a bearingcollar 62 surrounds the post 60 and is clamped to the frame structure ofthe mixer motor assembly by means of clamping bolts 63. The bearingcollar 62 may be of any conventional construction and will be understoodto contain the necessary ball bearing elements or their equivalent. Inorder to provide lubrication for the collar 62, an access fitting 64 maybe provided on the collar as illustrated in FIG. 3. The opposite side ofthe mixer motor assembly frame is connected to the vertical post 61.bymeans of an elongated bearing sleeve 65 which passes through the top andbottom plates 47 and 48 respectively of the mixer motor assembly and isrigidly affixed thereto. The bearing sleeve 65 also includes upper andlower post engaging bearing elements 66 and 67 respectively which may besecured to the bearing sleeve by means of bolts or the like and containsconventional bearing means such as ball or rollers, not shown, whichengage the vertical post 61. As will be noted from FIG. 5, the bearingsleeve 65 extends below the mixer motor assembly with the bearingelements 66 and 67 being relatively widely spaced on the post 61 toinsure even travel of the assembly along the guide posts.

The mixer motor assembly is caused to vertically reciprocate by means ofa cable 68 which is anchored to a suitable connector member 69 fixed tothe bottom plate 48 of the assembly frame as illustrated in FIG. 5. Thecable 8 extends upwardly from the mixer motor assembly and about anidler pulley 70 which is hung from a stationary bracket 71 fixed to arigid portion of the machine frame. The cable 68 passes downwardly fromthe idler pulley 70, is trained about a movable pulley 72 and thenpasses upwardly and is rigidly aflixed to a connector 73, which isattached to a releasing switch arrangement indicated generally at 74.The pulley and cable arrangement may be seen most clearly in FIG. 4.

The movable pulley 72 is attached to a swingable arm 75 by means of aclevis link 76 connected to the arm 75 by a pivot pin 77. The pivot pin77 has a roller cam follower 78 which engages the outside surface of acam track 79 atlixed to the front face of the cam sprocket 8. The arm 75has a right angle extending portion 80, as seen in FIG. 2, which isjournaled for rotation in bearing members 81 and 82 which are in turnaflixed to a rigid portion of the machine frame. A suitable stop ring 83may be fixed to the free end of the portion 80 in any suitable manner toprevent removal of the swingable arm.

As most clearly seen in FIG. 4, the cam track 79 presents a continuouscam surface over which the roller 78 rides during the rotation of thecam sprocket 8 in a clockwise direction as viewed in FIG. 4. The camtrack 79 includes a first high point or lobe 84 and a second high pointor lobe 85 with a depression 86 being located therebetween. At thecompletion of any given cycle of operations, the roller 78 is located atthe lowest point of the depression 86 as illustrated in FIG. 4, allowingthe mixer motor assembly and mixer shaft to descend to its lowest pointinto the rinse tank. Since the mixer motor assembly must descend bygravity and a certain predetermined downward force is required to feedthe cutter blades 38 into a frozen mixture, suitable weights 87 may beaffixed at any convenient location on the mixer motor assembly frame togive the desired force. The weights 87 may comprise chunks of lead orany other heavy material.

With the cam sprocket 8 rotating clockwise as viewed in FIG. 4, the camlobe 84 first causes the arm 75 to pivot downwardly as seen in thedrawings thus pulling down on the pulley 72 and raising the mixer motorassembly 34 by means of a connecting cable 68 to remove the mixer bladeshaft from the rinse tank. As the cam sprocket 8 continues to rotate,the roller 78 passes off of the lobe 84 and follows the cam track 79which allows the mixer mot-or assembly to slowly descend as the cutterblades engage the frozen substance. The amount of descent allowed to themixing apparatus will be determined by the configuration of the camtrack so as to allow the cutters to approach very closely the bottom ofthe milk shake container but not beyond. After the mixing blades havereached their lowest limit, the cam roller 78 begins to ride up on thelobe 85 to again raise the mixing assembly out of the finished milkshake. The cam follower is then allowed again to pass off of the lobe 85and enter the depression 86 in the cam surface as the mixing apparatusagain enters the rinse tank. By the time the cam follower 78 hasreturned to the position shown in FIG. 4, the machine has shut itselfoff and is ready for the next cycle of operation.

As aforementioned, a releasing switch arrangement 1s provided at 74 andconnected to the dead end of the cable 68. The details of the releasingswitch are illustrated in FIGS. and 11 of the drawings. The switchingarrangement comprises a bracket 87 which includes a channel shapedhorizontal arm 88 and a triangular brace member 89. The bracket 87 isrigidly and adjustably attached to the vertical frame member 10 by meansof a first bolt 90 and a second bolt 91 with the second bolt 91 beinglocated in slot 92 to allow the bracket to be adjusted for position. Thehorizontal arm 88 of the bracket has pivoted thereto, by means of a pin93, an angle iron member 94 which mounts a suitable micro switch 95. Themicro switch 95 includes a roller member 96 and a leaf spring operatingarm 97. As illustrated in FIG. 11, the leaf spring 97 projects through asuitable opening in the member 94 and the roller 96 bears on the topsurface of the arm 88 of the bracket. The cable connector 73 extendsupwardly through suitable holes in both the arm 88 and the horizontalleg of the angle member 94 with a locking nut 98 being located on theupper end of the connector. A compression spring 99 is located about theconnector 73 and bears on the bottom of the member 94 and the topsurface of the arm 88 thus tending to raise the member 94 against thedownward force acting on the connector 73 through the cable 68. Thedownward forces on the connector 73 serves to maintain the member 94downwardly against the top of the channel member 88 and in thisposition, the micro switch 95 is held in a closed position by means ofthe spring 97 and roller 96. The micro switch 95 is normally in serieswith all of the electrical circuits of the device such that, as long asthe switch is closed, the machine will operate through its normalcycles. If, for any reason, the downward movement of the mixer motorassembly 34 is jammed or halted because of a breakdown during thedescent of the assembly, the downward force on the cable 68 and theconnector 73 will be relieved. This allows the compression spring 99 topivot the member 94 and micro switch 95 upwardly, thus opening theswitch and breaking all electrical circuits and immediately halting theoperation of the device. A by-pass or override switch 100 may also belocated on the switch panel 20 to completely by pass the action of thesafety switch 95 to selectively operate the device during repairs. Tocomplete the structural arrangement for operation of the mixer motorassembly, a stop member 101 is fixed to the cam sprocket shaft 9,illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 8, for providing a lower limit for thedownward travel of the mixer motor assembly to take the weight off ofthe cable 68 at the end of a cycle of operation when the mixer motorassembly has descended to the downward travel of cutting blades 38within the milk shake container. A projecting arm 102 is fixedly clampedto the bearing sleeve 65 of the mixer motor assembly by means of aconventional clamp 103 and includes and adjustable screw 104 whichcontacts the stop member 101 at the end of the downward travel of thesleeve member. As illustrated in FIG. 8, the stop member 101 isgenerally rectangular in shape and rotates with the shaft 9 with theprotruding end or high point of the stop being contacted by the screwmemher 104 at the end of the travel of the mixing apparatus within themilk shake container and the side of the stop member being contacted bythe screw 104 when the mixing elements are returned to the rinse tank.The stop member 101 is so positioned on the shaft 9 that the propersurface of the stop member is contacted at the right instant during thereciprocation of the mixer motor assembly.

Container holder and rinse tank assembly As previously explained, thecontainer holder and rinse tank assembly 3 is swingable as a unitbeneath the rotatable mixing shaft assembly 4 so as to locate either themilk shake container 37 or a rinse tank beneath the mixing shaft at theproper time. The controlled movement of the assembly 3 is accomplishedby means of the cam member 14 which rotates with the shaft 9 as will nowbe described in detail with reference to FIGS. 6 and 1215. The assembly3 comprises a hollow quadrant shaped base portion 105 upon which ismounted a rinse tank 106 and a housing portion 107 having a cylindricalwall portion 108 to provide for the location of a milk shake containerpresently to 'be explained. The assembly 3 thus far described may beconstructed from sheet metal material suitably shaped and welded or mayconceivably be formed as a unitary casting. The rinse tank member 106includes an arcuate shaped spout 109 for engaging a portion of the topedge of a milk shake container and serves as a drain to carry off liquidwhich may drop from the mixing shaft onto the assembly 3 when the shaftis raised to allow the assembly 3 to swing. The rinse tank 106 also isequipped with a fitting 110 for connecting a flexible water conduit 111which may be in turn connected to an outside water source by means ofthe fitting 112 as shown in FIG. 2. The conduit 111 supplies a source ofclean water to the rinse tank which is equipped also with a drain pipe113 for maintaining the water at a constant level within the rinse tank.The conduit 113 connects with a vertical conduit 114 within the housing107 which telescopes onto a vertical hollow pipe 115 secured to ahorizontal portion 116 which is a part of the frame and enclosure 1. Themember 115 may be provided with a fitting 117 at the bottom end thereoffor connection to a suitable drain outlet. The slidable connectionbetween the conduit 114 and the upstanding drain pipe 115 also 9 servesas a pivotal connection about which the entire assembly 3 may bepivoted.

The container portion of the assembly 3 is most clearly illustrated inFIGS. 12, 13 and 15 and comprises a relatively shallow container shapeddevice having a circular bottom wall 118, a fixed semi-circular wall 119and a pivoted semi circular wall 120. The wall 121) is connected to thewall 119 by means of a pivot pin 121 and includes a flange member 122 atthe free end thereof which pivotally engages a rod like hook 123protruding from the housing portion 107 of the assembly and affixedthereto. The bottom Wall 118 of the container holder is provided with adownwardly directed tubular extension 124 with opposed vertical slots125 in the lower end thereof. The extension 124 telescopes over arotatable lug member 126 and is keyed thereto by means of a cross pin127 carried by the lug which engages the slots 125 in the extension. Thelug 126 is rotatably carried on the flanged tubular bearing 12S fixed tothe base 195 of the assembly. The lug 126 is retained on the bearing 128by means of a set screw 129 in the manner shown and is rotated by meansto be described during the swinging motion of the assembly 3. With thestructure described, the holder may be easily removed or lifted from theassembly when desired and is caused to alternately open and close toclamp about the container during the swingin motion of assembly 3.

As previously mentioned, the entire assembly 3 is caused to rotate orswing about the upstanding pipe 115 with its swinging motion beingcontrolled by the action of the cam member 14 as will now be describedin detail. A hoop element 130 is provided and has an eye or loop 131which pivots about the upstanding member 115. The hoop element 130 alsoincludes a semi-circular portion 132, which engages the bottom portionof the rinse tank 106 as shown in FIGS. 12, 13 and 14, and a straightterminal portion 133 which passes through a hole in the side of thequadrant shaped base 105 of the assembly. The terminal portion 133extends beyond the base 105 and through an elongated slot 134 in theinwardly curved wall 2 of the machine frame. As clearly illustrated inFIG. 14, when the assembly 3 is in position on the upstanding pipe 115,the bottom edge of the vertical drain conduit 114 rides on top of theloop 131 in the hoop element.

With the assembly 3 mounted in position as shown in FIGS. 12 and 13,counter clockwise rotation of the hoop 130 serves to pivot the entireassembly counter clockwise about the pivot 115. In order to obtain aclosing or clamping of the container holder sections 119 and 120, acompression spring 135 is fixed at one end to the wall of the rinse tank106 and attached at the other end to a rigid arm 135a carried by therotatable lug 126. In addition, a downwardly extending stop 136 is fixedto the underside of the housing 105 and a second upstanding stop 137 isfixed to the base 116 of the machine frame.

As seen in FIG. 13, when the hoop member 130 is pivoted to its extremeclockwise rotational position, limited by the slot 134, the spring 135is allowed to expand and since the entire assembly 3 has been swung tothe right, the arm 135a is out of contact with the fixed stop 137 andthus rotates until it contacts the stop member 136 on the bottom of theassembly housing. The rotation of the arm 135a also rotatesthe lug 126,and in turn, the fixed portions of the container holder to close thewalls 119 and 121) to tightly grip the container. At this time, the milkshake container and container holder are directly beneath the mixingshaft assembly as illustrated in FIG. 2. After mixing has been completedand the hoop member 130 is moved counter clockwise from the positionshown in FIG. 13 to that shown in FIG. 12, the swinging motion of theassembly 3 brings the end of the arm 135a into contact with the fixedstop 137 thus rotating the arm 135a slightly in the counter clockwisedirection and compressing the spring 135, allowing the two halves of thecontainer holder to open up.

For imparting motion to the hoop member 131 a flexible strap member 138is connected to the terminal portion 133 of the hoop at one end and to adownwardly extending pivoted control arm 139 at the other end, by meansof a pivot pin 140 as shown in FIG. 6. The arm 139 is connected at itsupper end to a bearing sleeve 141 rotatably mounted on a fixed pivot pin142. The arm 139 also includes a cam follower 143 which engages therotating cam member 14 mounted on the shaft 9. During rotation of theshaft 9, the high point of the cam 14 contacts the follower 143 to movethe arm 139 and the strap member 138 to the left as shown in FIGS. 6, 12and 13 to thus move the hoop member 130 counter clockwise to positionthe rinse tank 106 beneath the mixer shaft assembly. As the shaft 9continues to rotate, and at the proper time, the cam 14 allows the arm139 and strap member 138 to move to the right under the influence of afirst spring 143 connected to the end of the strap 138 and any suitablefixed point on the machine frame, not shown, and the tension spring 144connected between the upper portion of the arm 139 and a rigid portionof the machine frame as illustrated in FIG. 6. At the time the assembly3 is moved to the extreme clockwise position as shown in FIG. 13, thecontainer holder is positioned between the mixing assembly and the twohalves of the container holder 119 and 120 are tightened to secure thecontainer.

Milk flow control During the cutting or shaving of the pro-frozenmixture, the present device automatically introduces a supply of milkinto the container 37 from a supply source 5 shown in FIG. 1 to asuitable conduit 145 which is controlled by a milk supply valvearrangement indicated generally at 6 and shown most clearly in FIG. 3.

The milk control valve assembly 6 includes a valve unit 146 forselectively closing and opening the conduit 145. A pivotable valveoperating arm 147 extends upwardly as illustrated in FIG. 3 and iscontrolled by means of a shiftable rod 148 pivotally connected at 149. Atension spring 150 is connected to the rod 148 at one end and to astationary part of the machine frame at the other and provides aconstant bias against the rod 148 to maintain the valve 1.46 in theclosed position shown in FIG. 3. The opposite or left hand end of therod 148 is adjustably connected to a connector element 151 by means of athreaded end portion 152 and adjusting nuts 153. The connector element151 is in turn pivoted to the upper end of two parallel upstanding crankarms 154 and 155 which are fixed to rotate with shaft 156 by means ofset screws 157 and 153 respectively. The shaft 156 is journaled at oneend in a bracket 159 which is fixed to the machine frame. The oppositeend of the rotatable shaft 156 is telescoped within an operating ordrive shaft 160 and is free to rotate relative thereto. The extremeright hand end of the shaft 156, as seen in FIGS. 3 and 9, is alsoprovided with a depending drop arm 161 which abuts at its lower endagainst a fixed plate 162 connected to the switch panel 20. The stopelement 161 provides a limit for the counter clockwise rotation of theshaft 156 and the shifting of the rod 148. In addition, the shaft 156has afiixed thereto, by welding or the like, a crank arm 163 whichcarries the solenoid core 164 for a purpose presently to be described.

The opposite end of the bracket 159, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 4,provides. a bearing for the opposite end of the operating shaft 160which has a control arm 165 afiixed thereto. The control arm 165 isprovided with a roller cam follower 166 located adjacent the peripheryof the cam sprocket 8 and in position to be contacted by an arcuate camsurface 167 affixed to the front face of the cam sprocket 8. During theoperation of the machine, the cam surface 167 serves to contact theroller 166 causing rotation of the operating shaft 160 through the arm165. The rotation of the operating shaft 160 serves to move 1 1 theshiftable rod 148 through a solenoid connection in the manner now to bedescribed.

The right hand end of the operating shaft 160, as shown in FIG. 9, iswelded to a U-shaped bracket 168 which has a leg member 169 and 170extending at right angles to the shaft 160. The ends of the leg members169 and 170 are pivotally attached to a yoke 171 to which is attached asolenoid core 172. A connecting link 173 is pivoted at one end to theyoke 171 and at its opposite end to a cross pin 174 which extendsbetween the crank arms 154 and 155. This relationship is shown in FIGS.3 and 9. With this structural arrangement, the solenoid coil 172 and thesolenoid core 164 provide a breakable magnetic link between theoperating shaft 168 and the rotatable shaft 156 which is connected tothe shiftable rod 148 for operating the valve 146.

The energization and deenergization of the solenoid coil 172 iscontrolled by the same micro switch 54 which controls the operation ofthe mixer motor 49. Thus, when the switch 54 is closed so as to operatethe mixer motor, the solenoid core 164 is drawn into the coil 172resulting in a positive link between the operating shaft 160 and therotatable shaft 156 which allows the cam follower 166 and control arm165 to control the milk valve 146. During operation, and assuming thatthe solenoid coil 172 has been energized by the switch 54, the camsurface 167 at this time is beginning its approach to the cam follower166. The cam follower 166 rides onto the cam surface 167 thus pivotingthe control arm 165 counter clockwise as shown in FIG. 4. This motionrotates the shaft 160 which carries with it the solenoid coil 172causing the coil to be lifted as viewed in FIG. 3. Since coil 172 isenergized, the core 164 is also carried upwardly to thus rotate thecrank arm 163 connected to the shaft 156 in a clockwise direction asviewed in FIG. 3 to shift the rod 148 to the right by means of the crankarms 154 and 155. This motion opens the valve 146 and tensions thespring 150. As long as the solenoid coil 172 is energized, the valve 146will remain open as long as the cam follower 166 is riding on the camsurface 167. During normal operations, the valve 146 will remain openuntil such times as the follower 166 moves off of the surface 167 atwhich time the valve will again close by means of the spring 150 and themixer motor will subsequently deenergize by means of the micro switch 54which also deenergizes the solenoid coil 172.

Since it is not always desirable to have the milk flow during the entireoperation of the mixer motor and for the entire length of the camsurface 167, a liquid level control for the milk valve 146 is provided.This function is accomplished by means of two sensing prongs 175 and 176clamped to an insulating bracket 177 and connected to suitable leadwires 178. The lead wires 178 are part of a circuit breaker control unitwhich will be described later on in this specification for disconnectingthe power to the solenoid coil 172 to break the link between the controlshaft 160 and the rotatable shaft 156 to thus allow the spring 150 toreturn the milk valve 146 to a closed position regardless of theoperation of the mixing motor 49 or the contact between the cam surface167 and the follower 166. When a bridge is formed between the sensingprongs 175 and 176 by the liquid in the milk shake cup, the circuitbreaker unit functions to deenergize the solenoid 172. Before describingthe details involved in the structure for raising and lowering theprongs 175 and 176, it should also be noted that an override switch 179is provided on the switch panel 20 for selectively breaking theelectrical circuit to the solenoid 172 during periods when the machineis being repaired or in the event that the milk flow control is notdesired for any reason.

As seen in plan view in FIG. 7, the insulating bracket 177 which carriesthe prongs 175 and 176 is fixed to a carriage 180 which includes a crossmember 181 to which is secured a slidable bearing 182 surrounding theguide post 68. The carriage is completely free to move up and down onthe guide post 68 and is further stabilized by means of an offset guide183 which is fixed to the post 60 and passes through a suitable hole 184in the carriage so as to be also slidable therewith. The cross member181 of the carriage includes an upstanding bracket 184 to which a spring185 is attached at its upper end. The spring 185 is attached at itslower end to a portion of the bearing collar 62 of the mixer motorassembly. With this construction, it will be seen that the carriage 188is free to ride up and down on the post 60 with the mixer motor assemblysince the bearing 182 of the carriage normally rests on top of thebearing 62 for the mixer motor assembly. During the time when the mixermotor assembly is in its extreme lower position with the mixer bladesimmersed in the rinse tank, the carriage 188 is allowed to follow thebearing 62 of the mixer motor assembly to its lowest position. Duringthe time when the prongs 175 and 176 are to be used as a liquid levelcontrol, however, it is desired to have the prongs lowered within themilk shake container to the desired level of the milk within thecontainer so that the circuit breaker unit will operate when the milklevel rises to this point and the milk control valve will be shut off bydeenergization of the solenoid 172. To this end, an adjustable stopscrew 186 is carried by the cross member 181 of the carriage 181). Apivoted arm 187 is carried on a rotatable shaft 188 which is suitablyjournaled for rotation on a fixed portion of the machine frame. The topend of the arm 187, as seen in FIGS. 2 and 6, is provided with a stopsurface 189 which, under circumstances to be described, serves tocontact the adjustable stop screw 186 of the carriage 180. A secondcontrol arm 190 is fixed to the opposite end of the shaft 188 and isbiased by a compression spring 191 in a direction to rotate the shaft188 in a clockwise direction to urge the stop surface 189 to the dottedline position shown in FIG. 6. The control arm 199 is also contacted byan extension 192 of the control arm 139 which, as explained, controlsthe position of the swingable container holder and rinse tank assembly3. As previously explained, when the arm 139 is in the full lineposition as shown in FIG. 6, the assembly 3 is moved to the position forlocating the rinse tank 106 directly beneath the mixer shaft assembly 4.In this position, the extension 192 contacts the arm 190 so as to pivotthe arm 187 out of the way of the adjustable stop screw 186 thusallowing the carriage 180 to follow the mixer motor assembly to itslowest position. After the container holder and rinse tank assembly 3has been pivoted or swung so that the container holder is beneath themixer shaft assembly 4, the control arm 139 is in the dotted lineposition as shown in FIG. 6, with movement of the extension 192 allowingthe spring 191 to pivot the arm 187 to rotate the stop surface 189beneath the adjustable stop screw 186. This being the case, the carriage181) follows the mixer motor assembly downwardly until the stop screw186 contacts the surface 189 to prevent further lowering of thecarriage. The carriage 180 is stopped at the proper position for placingthe ends of the prongs 175 and 176 at the desired level to accomplishthe closing of the milk valve once the de sired level is achieved. Itwill also be noted that the level at which the prongs are allowed todescend within the milk shake container may be controlled by adjustingscrew 186.

To complete the control system for the milk shake processing machine, afifth control switch 193 is provided on the switch panel 20 andconstitutes a master override switch for the entire electrical circuitryof the machine and serves the purpose of allowing entire operation ofthe machine to be selectively discontinued at any point during the cycleof operation described.

Contr l circuit The electrical control system for the entire device isillustrated in FIG. 18 which is a schematic view showing therelationship of the various switches and electrical components. Thevarious electrical components illustrated in FIG. 18 bear identicalreference numerals used throughout the specification and drawings toidentify the identical components. As seen in FIG. 18, the signal light17 is directly connected across electrical lead wires 194 and 195 andthe safety release micro switch 95, along with the manually operatedmaster override switch 193, are located in the lead wire 195 in serieswith the cam sprocket drive motor 15 and the mixer motor 49. Inaddition, the manually operated override switch 100 is placed inparallel with the safety switch 95 to provide a by-pass for the switch95 as previously explained. With this arrangement, the master overrideswitch 193 may be operated to completely shut off the motors regardlessof the position of the safety switch 95 and the by-pass switch 100 maybe used to clear the machine during repair in the event that the safetyswitch 95 has been opened by jamming of the machine.

The cam operated micro switch 26 is a normally closed micro switch whichis moved to the open position by means of the cam surface 29 forcontrolling the operation of the cam sprocket drive motor 15. The timedelay or momentary switch 16 is located in parallel with the switch 26and serves to energize the motor 15 until the motor has driven the camsurface 29 out of contact with the switch 26 to allow the switch 26 toremain in a normal y closed position throughout the rotation of the camsprocket 8. The signal light 18 is placed in series with the motor 15 toindicate that the motor 15 is in operation. Override switch 19 is alsoplaced in series with motor 15 to provide a manual override toseelctively disconnect the motor 15.

The mixer motor 49 is placed in parallel with the motor 15 and in serieswith the micro switch 54 which is a normally closed switch moved to theopen position by means of the cam surface 57 as illustrated. The manualswitch 59 is also placed in series with the motor 49 to selectivelycontrol the operation of the mixer motor. Also in parallel with themotor 49 and in series with the micro switch 54 and the manual switch 59are the milk control solenoid 172 and the liquid level responsivecircuit breaker unit 196. With this arrangement, the micro switch 54normally energizes the circuit breaker unit 196 and the solenoid core172 to provide the milk flow control as previously described. The mixermotor 49 and the milk flow control may thus be selectively deenergizedby the manual switch 59.

The liquid level responsive circuit breaker 196 normally maintains thebridge contact 197 in a position to close the circuit through thesolenoid coil 172 and functions to move the bridge contact 197 to breakthe circuit through the solenoid coil when the liquid in the milk shakecontainer raises to the level to bridge the two prong members 175 and176 of the circuit breaker unit. A manually operated switch 179 providesa manual control to selectively deenergize the solenoid 172 so as toclose the milk supply regardless of the function of the circuit breakerunit 196.

Operation In order to enable a complete understanding of the sequence ofoperations of the various components of the machine involved in theprocess of making a milk shake, the overall operation of the machinewill now be described with relation to the drawings. At the beginning ofany given cycle of operations, it will be understood that the camsprocket 8 is in the position illustrated in FIGS. 2, 4 and 8, with themicro switches 26 and 24 being held in the closed position by means ofthe cam surfaces 29 and 57 respectively. All of the switches on theswitch panel 20, shown in FIG. 3, are at this time at the on positionand the signal light 17 is glowing to indicate that electrical power isavailable for operation of the machine. At this time the containerholder and rinse tank assembly 3 is in the position shown in FIG. 1

14 and in plan in FIG. 12. The milk flow valve 146 is closed and thesolenoid 172 is deenergized at the beginning of the operation.

The operator will select a container of the desired flavor of frozenmilk shake ingredients and place the container within the two halves 119and 120 of the container holder which are, at this time, slightly opento receive the container. It will also be noted that the mixer shaftassembly 4 including the mixer blades is immersed in the rinse tank 106along with the liquid level prongs 175 and 176.

When the milk shake container is in position, the operator presses thepush-button time-delay switch 16 which energizes the drive motor 15 longenough to cause the cam sprocket 8 to rotate a sufficient distance toallow the micro switch 26 to move to the closed position for continuingthe operation of the motor 15. As the cam sprocket 8 begins to rotate,the cam surface 79 moves the arm 75 to cause the cable 68 to raise themixer motor assembly and mixing shaft upwardly and out of the rinse tank106. During the initial movement of the mixing shaft assembly 4, themicro switch 54 is caused to close and open again by means of thedepression 58 in the cam surface 57 to give the mixer blades severalinitial rotations to throw off excess water from the blades. As soon asthe mixer shaft assembly and mixer blades have cleared the top of therinse tank 106, the cam member 14 con tacts the cam follower 143 tooperate the control arm 139 which swings the container holder and rinsetank assembly to the position shown in plan view in FIG. 13, with thecontainer holder directly beneath the mixing shaft assembly 4. At thistime, the control arm 75 is influenced by the cam surface 79 to allowthe mixer motor assembly and mixing shaft to again descend or lower thecutter blades 38 into contact with the frozen ingredients in thecontainer 37.

As the cutter blades 38 approach the frozen mixture in the container 37,the cam surface 57 has moved away from the micro switch 54 to allow theswitch to close to energize the mixer motor 49 and to energize thesolenoid coil 172. Continued movement of the cam sprocket 8 also hasmoved the cam surface 167 into contact with the roller on the controlarm which shifts the rod 148 to the left as shown in FIG. 3 to open thevalve 146 to begin the milk flow. The shifting of the arm 148 by meansof the control arm 165 is made possible by the magnetic link provided bythe energized solenoid coil 172. With these functions beingaccomplished, the cutter blades and mixing shaft assembly is beingrotated and slowly moved downwardly into the frozen mixture and the milkis being fed into the container 37 through the milk conduit 145.

It will also be noted that since the control arm 139 has shifted to thedotted line position shown in FIG. 6, the stop surface 189 has limitedthe downward travel of the sensing prongs and 176 to locate the prongsat a predetermined level Within the milk shake container 37 When thelevel of the milk in the container 37 raises to the position of the endsof the prongs 175 and 176, an electrical circuit will be completedacross the prongs to condition the liquid level responsive circuitbreaker 196 to break the circuit to the solenoid coil 172 thus allowingthe spring 150 to shift the rod 148 to the left as shown in FIG. 3 toclose the milk flow valve 146.

By the time the mixer and cutter blades have thoroughly mixed the milkand the frozen mixture, the lobe 85 of the cam surface 79 causes the arm175 to move the cable 68 to raise the mixer shaft assembly out of thecontainer. By the time the mixer and cutter blades approach the top ofthe cup 37, the cam surface 57 again moves into contact with the microswitch 54 to open the switch and break the circuit to the mixer motor49, stopping the rotation of the mixer shaft. As soon as the cutterblades have cleared the top of the cup 37, the cam 14 again contacts thecontrol arm 139 to swing the container holder and rinse tank assembly 3to the original position shown in FIG. 1 and in plan view in FIG. 12, tolocate the rinse tank directly beneath the mixer shaft assembly. Theswinging of the assembly 3 also causes the container holder to releaseits grip on the cup 37 to allow the container to be easily removed.Continued rotation of the cam sprocket 8 causes the cam surface 79 toallow the arm 75 to move upwardly allowing the mixer motor assembly andmixing shaft to again lower into the rinse tank to its original positionshown in FIG. 1.

When the mixer shaft assembly 4 has completely lowered into the rinsetank. the cam surface 2? again contacts the micro switch 26 to cause theswitch to open, breaking the circuit to the motor and halting therotation of the cam sprocket 8. It will also be noted that at thecompletion of the rotation of the cam sprocket 8, the cam surface 167has moved out of contact with the roller 166 of the milk flow controlarm 165 and the machine is again in the condition described to beginanother cycle when it is desired to mix another milk shake. The operatormerely removed the completed milk shake in the container 37 and it isready for consumption.

It will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art that the presentinvention provides novel and useful improvements in milk shakeprocessing apparatus. The arrangement and types of structural componentsutilized within this invention may be subject to numerous modificationswell within the purview of this invention and applicants intend only tobe limited to a liberal interpretation of the specification and appendedclaims.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new and desiredto be secured by Letters Patent is:

1. In a milk shake processing machine having a rotatable verticallyreciprocable shaft including mixing and cutter blade members for cuttingand mixing a frozen mixture in the bottom of a container; movablesupport means for positioning said container beneath said shaft, liquiddispensing means, and control means for sequentially positioning saidcontainer beneath said shaft, lowering said shaft and blade members intosaid container a predetermined distance, rotating said shaft within saidcontainer, dispensing a predetermined quantity of liquid into saidcontainer during the rotation of said shaft, and subsequently raisingsaid shaft.

2. A device for making a milk shake from a frozen mixture in the bottomof a container comprising in combination: a movable assembly including acontainer holder and a rinse tank, a rotatable mixing and cutting means,means to alternately locate said container holder and said rinse tankbeneath said mixing and cutting means in timed sequence, means toalternately lower said mixing and cutting means into said containerholder and said rinse tank in timed sequence with the movement of saidassembly, and means to rotate said mixing and cutting means during thelowering into said container holder.

3. The combination according to claim 2 including means for dispensing apredetermined quantity of liquid into said container during the rotationof said mixing and cutting means.

4. In a milk shake processing machine having a rotatable verticallyreciprocable mixing shaft including lade members for cutting and mixinga frozen mixture in the bottom of a container; a swingable assemblyincluding a 7 container holder and a rinse tank, said assembly beingmovable from a first position with said rinse tank beneath said blademembers to a second position with said container holder beneath saidblade members, a rotatable control means, a first cam means carried bysaid control means for moving said assembly from said first position tosaid second position and back to said first position during eachrevolution of said control means, a second cam means carried by saidcontrol means for lowering said mixing shaft into said rinse tank insaid first position and into said container holder in said secondposition, and a third cam means for actuating the rotation of saidmixing shaft when said shaft is lowered into said container holder.

5. The combination according to claim 4 including means for dispensing apredetermined quantity of liquid into said container during rotation ofsaid mixing shaft and wherein said blade members comprise, a firstplurality of radially extending cutter blades fixed to the bottom ofsaid shaft, said cutter blades being inclined upwardly in the oppositedirection to the direction of rotation of said shaft for inducing anupward flow, said cutter blades including a leading cutting edge forcutting said frozen mixture, and a plurality of radially extendingmixing blades fixed to said shaft above said cutter blades, said mixingblades being oppositely inclined relative to said cutting blades,whereby a counter flow is created to mix the frozen mixture and liquidwithin said container.

6. A device for making a milk shake from a frozen mixture in the bottomof a container comprising; a movable assembly including a containerholder and a rinse tank, a mixing shaft including cutting blades, meansto mount said mixing shaft for vertical reciprocation above saidassembly, first motor means connected to rotate said mixing shaft, a camshaft mounted for rotation in said device, a first cam fixed to said camshaft, a cam sprocket fixed on said cam shaft, second motor meansconnected to rotate said sprocket through one complete revolution, meanscooperating with said first cam and said assembly for moving said rinsetank beneath said mixing shaft to a second position with said containerholder beneath said mixing shaft and back to said first position duringeach revolution of said cam shaft, a second cam means carried by saidcam sprocket for lowering said mixing shaft into said rinse tank in saidsecond position, and a third cam means carried by said cam sprocket forenergizing said first motor means to rotate said mixing shaft when saidmixing shaft is lowered into said container holder.

7. The device according to claim 6 including a source of liquid andmeans controlled by said third cam means for dispensing liquid from saidsource to said container during rotation of said mixing shaft.

8. The device according to claim 7 wherein said means for dispensingliquid includes a liquid flow valve connected to said source, valveoperating means for operating said valve, a fourth cam means carried bysaid sprocket for actuating said valve operating means, solenoid meansconnected to said valve operating means providing a releasable magneticlink, and means for energizing and deenergizing said solenoid inresponse to said third cam means whereby said solenoid is energized onlyduring rotation of said mixing shaft to dispense liquid to saidcontainer.

9. The device according to claim 8 including liquid level responsivemeans associated with said =mixing shaft for deenergizing said solenoidto limit the quantity of liquid dispensed regardless of the position ofsaid third cam means.

10. The device according to claim 6 wherein said container holdercomprises a base member pivotally mounted on said assembly, a firstcurved wall portion fixed to said base, a second curved wall portionpivotally connected to said first wall portion, and means carried bysaid assembly and responsive to the swinging of said assembly forholding said wall portions open when said assembly is in the firstposition and to close said wall portions in the second position totightly grip said container during rotation of said mixing shaft.

11. The device according to claim 10 wherein said second wall portion ispivotally connected to said assembly, an operating arm connected to saidbase member, and means acting between said arm and said assembly forresiliently biasing said wall portions in the closed position.

12. The combination according to claim 6 wherein said second cam meanscomprises a continuous cam surface fixed to a face of said cam sprocket,a cam follower contacting said cam surface, and means to connect saidfollower to said mixing shaft, said cam surface being so formed toalternately lower said mixing shaft into said rinse tank and containerholder in timed sequence with the movement of said assembly.

13. The combination according to claim 12 including safety switch meansresponsive to the vertical movement of said mixing shaft fordeenergizing said first and second motor means upon jamming of themovement of said mixing shaft in the vertical direction.

14. The device according to claim 6 including a source of liquid, meanscontrolled by said third cam means for dispensing liquid from saidsource to said container during rotation of said mixing shaft, andliquid level responsive means associated with said mixing shaft foroverriding the control of said third cam means for dispensing only apredetermined quantity of liquid to said container.

15. A device for comminuting a frozen substance and mixing the same witha liquid in a container comprising; a rotatable vertical shaft adaptedto be lowered into the container, a plurality of radially extendingcutter blades fixed to the end of said shaft, said cutter bladesincluding a top surface inclined upwardly in a direction opposite to thedirection of movement of said blades for directing an upward flow, saidcutter blades including notched leading cutting edges for comminutingsaid substance, a first set of radially extending mixing blades fixed tosaid shaft above said cutter blades, each of said first set of mixingblades including downwardly and outwardly inclined end portions being soformed to direct a downward flow of material in said container, a secondset of radially extending mixing blades fixed to said shaft above saidfirst set of mixing blades, said second set of mixing blades being soformed to direct a downward flow, and a third set of mixing blades fixedto said shaft between said first and second set, said third set ofmixing blades having downwardly inclined portions and vertical endportions extending closely adjacent the side of said container and to apoint adjacent the path of the ends of said cutter blades.

16. A device for comminuting a frozen substance in the bottom of acontainer and mixing the same with a liquid in the container comprising;a rotatable vertical shaft adapted to be lowered into the container,means fixed to the bottom of said shaft for contacting and comminutingsaid substance and directing an upward flow, vertical blade meanscarried by said shaft and extending closely adjacent the side of saidcontainer and to a point adjacent said comminuting means, and aplurality of radially extending mixing blades fixed to said shaft and soformed to direct a downward flow within said container.

17. A device for mixing a frozen substance in the bottom of a containerwith a liquid in the container comprising, in combination; a rotatableshaft adapted to be lowered into the container, means fixed to thebottom of said shaft for contacting and comminuting said substance anddirecting an upward flow, first vertical blade means fixed to said shaftfor clearing said substance from the side of said container, and secondblade means fixed to said shaft for directing a downward counter flow ofliquid in said container.

18. A device for gripping and shifting a cup-like container from a firstremote position to a second position beneath a mixing shaft comprising;a base member, a swingable support member pivotally mounted on saidbase, means to move said support member between said first and secondpositions, an expandable container holder carried by said supportmember, and means responsive to the movement of said support member forexpanding said holder in said first position and to close said holderduring movement to said second position.

19. A device for holding and shifting a cup-like container between afirst and second position comprising; a base member, a swingable supportmember pivotally mounted on said base, means to move said support memherfrom a first position to a second position, a container holder includinga bottom plate pivotally mounted on said support member, a first curvedwall portion fixed to said bottom plate, a second curved wall portionpivotally connected at one side to said first wall portion and at theother side to said support member,

and means carried by said base member and said support member forpivoting said bottom plate to alternately move said wall portions toopen and closed positions responsive to the movement of said supportmember.

20. In an automatic mixing machine having a mixing shaft, a rinse cycleand a mixing cycle, a mixing shaft control apparatus comprising; meansto mount said mixing shaft for vertical reciprocation, a rotatable camsprocket, means to selectively drive said sprocket through one completerevolution, a continuous cam surface on one face of said sprocket, a camfollower in engagement with said cam surface, means to transmit themovement of said follower to move said mixing shaft from a first loweredrinse position to a second lowered mixing position and back to saidfirst position during each revolution of said sprocket.

21. The apparatus according to claim 20 including drive means forrotating said mixing shaft, and second cam means carried by saidsprocket for energizing said drive means only when said mixing shaft ismoved to said lowered mixing position.

22. In an automatic milk shake processing machine having a mixing shaftand a mixing shaft drive means actuated by a first cam means, liquiddispensing apparatus comprising; a source of liquid, a liquid flow valveconnected to said source, valve operating means for operating saidvalve, a second cam means for actuating said valve operating means,solenoid means connected to said valve operating means providing areleasable magnetic link, and means for energizing and deenergizing saidsolenoid in response to said first cam means, whereby said solenoid isenergized only during rotation of said mixing shaft to dispense liquid.

23. The device according to claim 22 including liquid level responsivemeans associated with said mixing shaft for deenergizing said solenoidto limit the quantity of liquid dispensed regardless of the position ofsaid first cam means.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,325,190 12/1919Chodak 259- 1,348,222 8/ 1920 Holmes.

1,401,475 12/ 1921 Jensen.

2,595,985 5/ 1952 Schwaneke.

2,967,433 1/1961 Phillips 259-108 2,995,158 8/ 1961 Oberg 141-693,011,426 12/1961 Mueller 99-275 3,086,563 4/ 1963 Patten et a1. 141-693,139,917 7/1964 Elmore 259-107 WALTER A. SCHEEL, Primary Examiner. R.W. JENKINS, Assistant Examiner.

1. IN A MILK PROCESSING MACHINE HAVING A ROTATABLE VERTICALLYRECIPROCABLE SHAFT INCLUDING MIXING AND CUTTER BLADE MEMBERS FOR CUTTINGAND MIXING A FROZEN MIXTURE IN THE BOTTOM OF A CONTAINER; MOVABLESUPPORT MEANS FOR POSITIONING SAID CONTAINER BENEATH SAID SHAFT, LIQUIDDISPENSING MEANS, AND CONTROL MEANS FOR SEQUENTIALLY POSITIONING SAIDCONTAINER BENEATH SAID SHAFT, LOWERING SAID SHAFT AND BLADE MEMBERS INTOSAID CONTAINER A PREDETERMINED DISTANCE, ROTATING SAID SHAFT WITHIN SAIDCONTAINER, DISPENSING A PREDETERMINED QUANTITY OF LIQUID INTO SAIDCONTAINER DURING THE ROTATION OF SAID SHAFT, AND SUBSEQUENTLY RAISINGSAID SHAFT.